Fence



(No Model.)

B. ROBERTS. FENGE.

No. 459,019. Patented Sept. 8, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDlVARD ROBERTS, OF BROVNSBURG, INDIANA.

FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,019, dated September 8, 1891.

Application filed February 28, 1891. Serial No. 383,191. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD ROBERTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brownsburg, in the county of Hendricks and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fences, of which the following is a specification.

My said invention relates to various improvements in the construction and arrangement of the details of fences, whereby an inexpensive and firm structure is provided, as will be hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof, and on which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a fencepost, showing the ends of the rails attached thereto and the particular construction and arrangement of parts constituting my invention; Fig. 2, a similar View showing a modified arrangement of some of the parts; Fig. 3, a view of a portion of Fig. 1, showing certain parts in edge elevation and others in section and Fig. l, an edge elevation of the modified form shown in Fig. 2.

In said drawings the portions marked A represent the post; 13, the rails, and O the wires forming the top of the fence, as shown.

The post A consists of a piece of bar-iron mounted in a base A, which preferably consists of a piece of tile of the desired length,

said post being secured therein by means of a band or strip of metal a, secured at its center to the post by a bolt to, its ends being bent down alongside opposite sides of the base A, and secured thereto by a bolt (L as shown. The space between the post A and the inner surface of the hollow tile is then filled with a suitable substance A such as Portland cement or an equivalent material, which, when hardened and dry, firmly secures the two parts together. The metal strap a is preferably formed of a small strip of galvanized iron split from each end toward the center to a point above the edge of the tile, the lower portions of the two ends being then given a half-twist and bent to extend down on each side of the tile, as shown. Instead of this metal strip, awire a could be used, if preferred, as will be readily understood, it being given a turn around the bolt a in the secured.

post at its center, and its ends brought to extend down alongside the tile and secured to the ends of the bolt ta which extends through said tile, as shown. When the metal strap or clip a is used, the upper half forms the rest for the bottom rails of the fence, and when the wire a is used one of the rail-supports A is used in this position. Said rail-support A consists of apiece of wire of suitable length bent in its central portion to form threesides of a socket, which is placed on the post to embrace three of its sides, and secured thereto by an open link or, which engages with the bend in said support at each side of the post and forms the other side of the socket, which thus completely embraces the post and permits the support to be vertically adjusted to any position thereon desired, as many being used on each post as are required by the character of fence being built. Transverse holes 0. are formed in the post at intervals throughout its length, in which pins of, which may be a nail or any character of pin convenient, are inserted. \Vhen the rails are tied in position, the ties are passed over said pins, said rails and the rail-supports being thus securely supported in the desired position, as will be presently described.

The rails B are or may be any rails convenient and of any form whatever. The ends rest upon the rail-supports A on either side of the post, and are secured thereto by awire tie b, the tie being preferably doubled at its center and caught under one end of the railsupport, the ends of which are bent down to form hooks adapted to conveniently receive and retain said ties. The tie is then passed around over the rails and under the opposite end of the rail-support and then back,its end being separated and one passed on each side of the post and above a pin a therein, then down and under the end of the wire support from whence the tie was started, then back around the post above the pin, and then the two ends are twisted under the other portions of the wire at the sides or edge of the post and This tie not only firmly secures the rails in position, but prevents any vertical movement of the rail-support on the post.

In Fig. 2 I have shown the rails as consisting of boards or planks, and when such rails are used the rail-supports are preferably bent up against the sides thereof, as shown, to more securely support them in position and more conveniently retain them in position while the fence is being built. The tying or wiring is done in the same manner as before described. I

The wires C extend longitudinally of the fence above the rails when it is desired to have a combined wire-and-rail fence, and are secured to the post by means of spring-hooks 0, formed of pieces of heavy or spring wire, one end of which extends through the top one of the transverse holes a in the post, and the other end of which is bent, as shown, to form an open-sided eye or hook withpoint down, through which said wire may pass. Thus upon anyunusual weight or strain, such as the falling of a tree or the lodging of an animal, being thrown upon the top of the fence these supports are adapted to spring open or give way and permit the Wire to slaoken or fall from the post without breaking. The repairs from such an accident are easily effected, as will be readily understood, it being only necessary to lift up the long wire and place it in the book, as before.

Having thus fully described my said invent-ion,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

' 1. The combination of thepostA,having the fence portions secured thereto, substantially as described, and the basexA', consisting of a hollow tile, said post Abeing secured in said base by means of cement inserted around said post within said base and by a strap or wire brace secured to the post and extending each way across the top of the base and down alongside its opposite sides, each end being securely fastened thereto, whereby said post is braced and supported in position, substantially as forth.

2. The combination, in a fence, of the post, a rail-support formed to engage with said post and adjustably mounted thereon, the rails mounted on said rail-support, a stationary catch secured in said post, and a tie passing around said rail-support, rails, and post and engaging with said stationary catch, whereby said several parts are rigidly secured and supported in the desired position, substantially as set forth.

The combination, in a fence, of the post, the rail-supports A mounted thereon,consisting-of a wire bent as described, and the link a which, with the bent portion, forms a socket which embraces said post, the rails mounted on the ends of said supports, and the wire ties passing around and over said supports, rails, and posts, whereby said rails are secured in position, all substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and sea], at Indianapolis, Indiana, this 17th day of February, A. D. 1891.

EDWARD ROBERTS. [L. s]

WVitnesses:

E. W. BRADFORD, FRANK IV. W001). 

